Suspender-adjusting device



Oct. 1, 1929. J. M. CLARK SUSPENDER ADJUSTING DEVICE Fi led Dec. 12, 1925 Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. CLARK, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL BUTTON FASTEN- ING AND BUTTON COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN A' CORPORATION OF MICHI- GAN SUSPENDER-AIDJUSTING DEVICE Application filed December 12, 1925, Serial No. 74,974;

This invention relates to improvements in so-oalled suspender slides and the like, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of this character which is simple and eflicient in operation.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative device embodying the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a suspender strap carrying the illustrative slide.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, similar to that of Fig. 2, but illustrating an advantageous relation of parts to permit adjustment of the suspended strap.

'Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the middle or 20 cross bar of the device. 7

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the same bar rotated so that the arrangement of gripping lugs or teeth may be shown.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the same bar taken on a line through one of the gripping lugs or teeth.

For convenient description, the illustrative slide has been shown in one typical use, namely, on an ordinary overall suspended strap 10 which is usually made of heavy denim or some other fabric of adequate strength. In the arrangement shown the suspender strap is threaded through the illustrative slide 11 and around a typical button loop 12, the latter serving to hook over a button or the like to connect the strap with the overall bib.

The illustrative slide comprises three parallel bars 13, 14 and 15, around which the suspender strap is threaded. In the present arrangement the strap passes under bars 13 and and over bar 14, and, after passing around the loop 12, an end of the strap is threaded downwardly outside of bar 14 so F that it lies between this bar and the outer strand of the suspender strap,thereby concealing the bar 14 and preventing its contact with the wearers clothing. The foregoing arrangement of bars is provided, in this instance, by employing an elongated or rectangularloop of wire 16, the longer sides of which provide the bars 13 and 15 and the ends of which carry the middle bar 14, which is slidably connected thereto by eyes 17 through which the ends of the loop pass. The eyes 17 or teeth 18 to provide means for biting into or gripping the suspender strap. In the present arrangement the bar 14 is provided with two, opposite rows of teeth 18 which are advantageously formed by upsetting or eX- truding the metal of the bar.

its periphery by oppositely moving dies which squeeze out a lip or fin of metal beyond the normal periphery of the bar.

Under tension applied by the downward pull of the button loop 12, the bar 14 is drawn down until it clamps the two intervening thicknesses of suspender strap against the corner of bar 13. During this relative adjustment of the two bars, the bar 14 is rotated on its axis in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), thereby bringing the rows of teeth 18 into engagement with the adjacent strands of suspender strap. The degree with I which the teeth grip or bite into the strap increases with the further rotation of the bar;

and a corresponding increase in resistance to such further rotation of the bar is thereby developed. I

The abovedescribed clamping or gripping action of bar 14 materially resists relative slipping of the suspender straps in the slide, thereby preventing accidental change in adjusted length of the suspender strap. In the arrangement illustrated, wherein the bar 14 is concealed by looping the suspender strap around it, there is a greater tendency for the ,strap to increase in length because under the tensionon strands 19 and 20, both the strands 20and 21 tend to slip in same direc-.

tion, namely that of arrows 22, and these This is con veniently done by punching the bar adjacent strands do not therefore mutually resist the tendency to slip or creep in the slide. Therefore the effectual checking of any slipping the strap is relieved, thereby allowing the various strands of the strap to be loosened and slipped through the slide to secure the desired adjustment.

The number of gripping teeth as well as their angular position relative to the eyes 17 and the plane of loop 16 may be variedto suit requirements. If the strand 19 is looped around bar 14 in the'opposite direction .(thereby placing the end 21 against the wearer), a corresponding change in the angular position of teeth 18 or in the number ofthe rows of teeth may be desirable because the tension around bar 14 will then be such as to rotate it in a direction opposite "to that illustrated.

Obviously the invention is not limited tothe details or mode .of use of the illustrative device, since these may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly, since certain features maybe advantageously used in various combinations and sub-combinations. 7

Having described one embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. A suspender slide comprising in combination a rectangular closed loopot wire and an intermediate straight wire'bar havingeyes at its extremities whichpass around the sides of said loop, thereby making said'har slidable in said loop, said 'barhaving gripping teeth consisting of tooth-like projections of metal upset from the metal of said bar and depressionsthereinadjacent said teeth, thereby exposing said teeth zbetterto grip a suspender strap.

'2. A suspender slide comprising in .combination a rectangular closed loop of wire formed to provide suspender engaging corners and an intermediatestraight wire bar having eyes at 'Iitsextrem'ities which pass around the sides of said "loop, thereby making said bar slidable in said loop, said .bar having gripping teeth consisting of toothlike projections of metal upset from the-metal of said barand depressions therein adjacent said "teeth,'thereby exposing said teeth better to grip a suspender strap, said'loop and bar arranged to cooperate to .grip a suspender strap "between the teeth on said bar and a corner of the wire .forming said loop.

3. ,A suspender slide comprising "incombination a rectangular closed loop oi? wire formed with suspender engaging corners,

with the corners of said wire arranged to engage a suspender strap threaded through said loop, an intermediate straight wire bar having eyes at its extremities which pass around the sides of the loop, the openings in said eyes being substantially larger than the sides of the loop to permit said barto twist on its axis through a substantial but limited angle, said bar having relatively small gripping teeth thereon adapted to engage the suspenderstrap and cooperate with said loop to prevent said strap from slipping, said bar being-adapted -'to twist through a limited angle under the tension of said strap to bring said "teeth' into firm engagement with said strap.

4. A suspender slide comprising in combination a rectangular closed loop of wire formed with suspender engaging edges, an intermediate bar extending transversely of said loop, means for connecting theends of said bar to the'sides of: said loop so as to permit the bar to slide in said loop and to rotate relative thereto, saidbar being provided with a series of relatively small teeth adapted to bite into a suspender strap without distorting it to prevent the strap from slipping, and a suspender strap having one strand threaded over the slidable bar and under the ends of said loop and'having a return strand looped around said slidable bar and lying underneath said first strand, said suspender strands cooperating under tensionto draw the bar toward an end of said loop to grip the intervening suspender strands and to cause said teeth to bite more firmly into the adj acent suspender strand.

In "testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN M. CLARK.

ill. 

